NOVEL NEXT Chapter 57 - Episode 57: Tsuchisuke's Family
Episode 57: Tsuchisuke’s Family
~~Earth Soldier Tsuchisuke’s Perspective~~
I’ve made up my mind.
To infiltrate the Demon Lord’s territory and bring back my wife and children, Earth decided.
Compared to the Demon Lord’s army, Zaus-sama’s place is a billion times better.
There’s no greater happiness for Earth than living with his family.
I headed towards my home in the Demon Lord’s territory while concealing my presence.
Earth Soldiers are a type of earth-elemental demon.
We’re mainly skilled in construction-related tasks.
We’re also adept at burrowing underground and concealing our presence.
“Underground Submersion: Mogul!”
This spell allows me to blend into the earth with concealment magic.
I managed to sneak around and finally arrived at my home in the Demon Lord’s territory.
This is the village of “Tsuchimura,” exclusively for Earth Soldiers.
It’s a village in a swampy cave where a foul stench permeates the air, reeking of mold and rotting flesh.
I used to think this was normal. But now, I can’t imagine living in a place like this once I’ve been to Zaus-sama’s.
“Eh? Aren’t you the elite warrior Tsuchisuke Earth?”
“Hey there. Long time no see, Earth.”
“I heard you were defeated by Zaus and died. Are you really alive?”
“Hahaha. Well, somehow my life was saved, Earth.”
Hmm.
Should I tell them about Zaus-sama…?
But to the villagers, Zaus-sama is an enemy.
For now, my priority is my family.
I slipped past the villagers’ gaze and arrived at my own cave.
“Oh! Dad! D-dad, it’s Dad!!”
“Huh? Oh, it’s true! Dad!!”
My 5-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter.
They jumped into my arms as soon as they saw me.
“Are you okay?! Prince of the Earth! Daddy’s back.”
“Dad! I… I heard Dad was dead… Uwaaah!!”
“M-me too. M-me too. Dad didn’t come back… Waaah!!”
“There, there. Don’t cry, Earth. Dad is alive. I’m back like this. Don’t cry, Earth.”
In the depths of the cave, my wife was folding laundry.
She dropped her kimono with a thud.
“Eh… Tsuchisuke-san…?”
“Yeah. Honey. It’s me, Earth.”
“You… you…!!!”
“Honey!!!”
We embraced each other.
And then we kissed.
Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy, sloppy.
We intertwined our tongues as if there was no tomorrow…
Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy, sloppy.
“You… ahn… hah…”
“Honey.”
Squishy, squishy, squishy, squishy.
“Daddy… it’s so long… the kissing time is so long…”
“Big brother… let go… Earth. I can’t see… Earth. I want to see… a fierce kiss too…”
“Don’t watch, Earth.”
“I want to see too.”
It’s been a while, and the overflowing love exploded.
I love you. I like you. I love you, honey.
“You… can’t. If you keep going like this, we’ll have a third one, Earth.”
“That’s right! It’s okay if we have one!”
“Eh? No, it’s not! Even with two children, we can barely manage to eat. If we have a third one, our family will starve to death, Earth.”
“Hehehe. We can do it, Earth!! From now on, we’ll have proper jobs, live in clean caves, and have three meals a day!!”
“What are you talking about, Earth? Such a dreamlike place doesn’t exist. It’s impossible, Earth.”
“But it does exist, Earth!!”
I told them about Zaus-sama without hiding anything.
My wife furrowed her brow.
“I can’t believe it. Clearly, you’ve been deceived, Earth. Zaus is a traitor to the demon race. It’s unthinkable to trust him. Don’t be too naive, Earth. If you’re too kind, you’ll end up being used and exploited and that’ll be the end, Earth.”
“That’s not true! You’ll see when we get there, Earth!”
I managed to persuade the skeptical wife, and we decided to leave our home with our entire family, Earth.
“Oh my, oh my? Isn’t this the elite warrior Tsuchisuke-san?”
“Tsuchi Kenji… Did you dye your hair blonde? And pierce your ears… even your mouth…”
He has really changed a lot,Earth.
“Hahaha! You’re looking lively, Earth! Elite warrior, huh!”
This guy still resents that I was able to join the Kakgaridan’s elite guard, even now, Earth.
“I failed the entrance exam, dammit! I’m just not skilled enough, Earth!”
“Ugh. I’m in a hurry, so move out of the way, Earth.”
“Oh? You just came back, and you’re in a rush? Where are you going, Earth? How did you manage to survive, Earth?”
“How did I…?”
“You probably just ran away all by yourself, didn’t you? Abandoning your comrades like a coward!! You coward!!”
“That’s not true! I-I didn’t do that, Earth!!”
“Really now~? Kakgaridan said they were completely wiped out~. And yet, you being the only one… It doesn’t make sense, Earth!”
“Ugh…”
…Oh, right.
Now that I think about it, this is an opportunity, Earth!
Zaus-sama wanted to increase his subordinates, Earth.
He wanted as many as possible. He wanted a massive amount, Earth.
There are over 5,000 Earth Soldiers in the Tsuchimura village, Earth.
If I take everyone to the Demon Duke’s territory, they’ll become a formidable force, Earth!
Everyone can have a good life, and everyone can be happy, Earth!!
Killing two birds with one stone, Earth!!
Nothing but benefits, Earth!!
“Everyone, listen to me, Earth!!”
I poured all my passion into it, Earth.
Zaus-sama’s wonderful qualities. The fantastic benefits of the Demon Duke’s territory.
“──And, we get three meals a day with breaks!! We even get paid vacation, Earth!! They even have childcare facilities for children. Women and men can work freely in the Demon Duke’s castle, Earth!!”
With this, everyone will be in Happy Earth!
But as soon as I thought that…
A pebble hit my face.
“Ow! W-what are you doing!?”
“Don’t lieeee!”
“I’m not lyinggggg!! I’ve actually experienced it, Earth!!”
“You’re definitely being deceived!”
“I’m not being deceivedeee!! Zaus-sama is a fantastic demon, Earth!!”
“The fantastic demon is the Demon Lord-sama!”
“That’s right! The Demon Lord-sama is amazinggg!!”
“Zaus is the enemyyy!!”
“The one at fault is Zausss!!”
Ughhh!!
They just won’t understanddd, Earth!!
“Gehaha! Even the elite warrior Tsuchisuke-san has fallen from grace! You, who were once admired as an elite in this village, are now a complete traitor, Earth!!”
“Ugh… I-I’ve realized, Earth. Th-the truly great rulers… they value their subordinates… that’s what I’ve come to understand, Earth…”
“Gahaha! Then the person of integrity is Demon Lord-sama, right?! The strongest existence. The greatest power! The Demon Lord-sama is working hard for us, Earth!!”
*Sigh*… There’s no point in saying any more.
My family and I started to run.
“Oh! They’re escaping! Someone catch them!”
“Tsuchisuke is tough! Attack them as a group, Earth!”
“Contact the Demon Lord’s army! Traitors have escaped, Earth!!”
There’s no way we’ll be caughttt!!
We’ll live happily under Zaus-sama’s rule, Earth!!
“Underground Submersion: Mogul!!”
We burrowed into the ground.
“Dad, fight them!”
“I agree with that sentiment. You’re embarrassing, Earth.”
“Running away is the priority, Earth.”
“Ugh. You’re a coward, Dad! I’m disappointed in you, Earth!!”
“…………”
Sure, fighting would be fine.
But, I’ve heard that the villagers’ levels are all below 30.
If I were to fight in this condition, my level 140 self would easily win, Earth.
Violence doesn’t solve anything. Zaus-sama taught me that.
Living happily without anyone getting hurt. That’s the happiest way to live, Earth. I fell in love with Zaus-sama’s ideas. That’s why I’ll never attack the weak.
And so, after desperately escaping,
my family and I safely arrived at the Demon Duke’s castle, Earth.
“Hey. Do you really think Zaus is a good ruler?”
“Of course, Earth! There’s no one like Zaus-sama in this world!”
“Ugh… It’s really hard to believe, Earth…”
I introduced my family to Zaus-sama.
“Hmm. Welcome.”
But, under Zaus-sama’s sharp gaze, the children cried out in fear.
“Waaah! Scary!!”
“Mom, I’m scared too!!”
“Oh, there, there. Mom’s here, so don’t worry.”
Zaus-sama’s appearance is scary, so the children are intimidated when they first meet him, Earth.
“You! I still can’t trust Zaus! Let’s go, Earth!!”
“Hehehe. Well, well.”
“You’re being deceived, dammit!!”
Ah…
It feels nostalgic, Earth.
I used to think the same way at first, Earth.
“I-if you lay a hand on the children, you won’t get away with it!!”
“T-this! You shouldn’t be rude!”
“You, keep quiet. I’ll protect the children. I absolutely won’t let anyone touch them.”
“Tsuchisuke… Your wife is quite spirited. I feel like she might bite me any moment.”
“Ughhhhh!!”
I’m sorry, really sorry, Earth!!